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Danny Salazar’s name and uniform number are still posted above an empty locker in the Columbus
clubhouse, a testament to the help the Clippers have given the Cleveland Indians in what is looking
more and more like a futile quest to reach the postseason.

On the other side of the room, evidence of Daisuke Matsuzaka’s failure to help the Tribe has
been obliterated. Relief pitcher Bryan Price moved over and took one of the veteran Japanese
pitcher’s two empty lockers as soon as he cleaned out his stuff yesterday morning. The former
Boston Red Sox standout asked for his unconditional release and was granted it, which shows the gap
between how Dice-K views himself and how the Indians view him.

When a major league baseball team needs help, its triple-A affiliate usually is the first place
it looks. The Indians needed help to replace injured starter Corey Kluber and they summoned Salazar
— who has made a case for being their best pitching prospect in years — and not Matsuzaka.

With the end of the season bearing down like a heat-seeking missile, the Indians could use more
help in several areas. They are advised to keep looking. Although there are players here who can
help in minor ways, the young impact players already have been called up and the older ones have
shown by either their performance or health that they aren’t likely to provide the miracle the
Tribe needs.

“The next wave of young players is down below,” Clippers general manager Ken Schnacke said. “We
have some backup and utility players, role players who could go up and help out a little bit. We’ve
got some pitching. We’re trying to get them some more innings to get them squared away a little
bit, but all of the impact players are already in Cleveland.”

Reliever Vinnie Pestano is one of the players the Clippers are trying to get “squared away.” He
is a former setup man who is as close to an impact player as the team has left. He enjoyed two
impressive seasons in that role in Cleveland, struggled this season (he also had a sore elbow that
landed him on the disabled list at one point) and was optioned to Columbus on July 30.

He has a 4.66 ERA in nine appearances for the Clippers, which doesn’t speak to his erratic
circumstances.

“Right now it’s kind of like putting together a jigsaw puzzle blindfolded,” Pestano said. “There
are some days everything feels good, some days everything feels off. I’m just trying to build that
consistency right now.”

Whether he finds it, the reality for the Indians is harsh: It’s impossible for a relief pitcher
to make up 61/2 games in the American League Central standings (or 41/2 in the wild-card race) with
37 to play.

It’s dubious whether any player can be expected to do that, but others at least have a chance: A
starting pitcher might go 5-0 and a hitter might win several games with his bat over the course of
a torrid month.

In another place and time, Matt LaPorta might have been able to do that. When the Indians
acquired the strapping outfielder from Milwaukee in the CC Sabathia trade in 2008, he was seen as a
future big-league slugging star.

But after four partial seasons with the Indians — including stints of 100-plus games in 2010 and
2011 that brought mostly mediocre results — LaPorta had hip surgery at the end of last season and
didn’t get to Columbus until May 1. After an 8-for-21 start that included four home runs, more hip
and hitting problems brought LaPorta back to a nonimpact level: a .248 average and eight homers in
129 at-bats.

When it comes time for September call-ups, LaPorta probably will head home.

“(Call-ups) will most likely be based on what (the Indians) need and what they feel will help
them down the stretch,” Clippers manager Chris Tremie said.

Call-ups also will be made based on whether the Clippers can still supply those needs. With the
help already in Cleveland, most, if not all, of the team’s September call-ups will be relief
pitchers.